The copper deposit of the Zamin Hossein district, Dehaj- Sarduiyeh metallogenic belt, SE Iran: Constraints on ore mineralization, alteration, and fluid inclusions

The Zamin Hossein copper deposit, as a part of the Dehaj- Sarduiyeh metallogenic belt, is located about 170 km southeast of Kerman city. This deposit is accompanied by Eocene volcanic (andesite, andesi-basalt and pyroclastic) and Eocene intrusive body (granodiorite and granite). The propylitic, sericitic, argillic-sericitic and silicic alterations are associated with this deposit. Chalcopyrite and pyrite are the most important hypogene sulfide minerals which are accompanied by supergene mineral assemblages such as goethite, hematite, limonite, malachite, and azurite. The hypogene minerals show generally vein-veinlet, stockwork and crustiform textures. The microthermometric studies in quartz crystalscogenetic with the ore minerals revealed four types of fluid inclusions on the basis of phase content: 1-( L-V), 2-(L-V-S), 3-(V-L), and 4-(V). The results of microthermometric analyses revealed that the fluid inclusions have a wide range of Th (170°C to 530°C). The L-V-S type fluid inclusions displayed Th and salinity ranges of 190-473°C and 31.4-55.6 wt% NaCl eq., respectively. The liquid-rich 2-phase inclusions (L-V) show salinities within the range of 1.74-6.45 wt% NaCl eq. Based upon microthermometric data, boiling, mixing, and simple cooling of the fluids were the essential mechanisms in deposition and evolution of this deposit. The ore-forming fluids were probably of magmatic and mixed magmatic-meteoric sources. According to the structural and textural aspects, alteration and mineralization of mineral assemblages and microthermometric data, the Zamin Hossein ore deposit can be categorized as porphyry copper-type.